Jay Baruchel may have the right idea about the Montreal Canadiens
By Omar L
The Montreal Canadiens are easily one of the season’s surprise winning teams, and Jay Baruchel shared his thoughts on why that may be the case.
It’s been beaten to death so far, but not many had the Montreal Canadiens playing so well this season. The team is still in a playoff spot despite losing to the Dallas Stars Tuesday night. It’s knocked them down to a place in one of the East’s two wild-card spots, but the Habs should take that over being where they were for the majority of the year in 17/18.
But what’s changed exactly? The personnel is different with Max Domi and Tomas Tatar in the top-six instead of Alex Galchenyuk and Max Pacioretty. There also differences in the blueline with Noah Juulsen and Victor Mete getting bigger roles while newcomer Xavier Ouellet is bouncing back fairly well after getting bought out by the Detroit Red Wings. Additionally, Claude Julien isn’t holding back on the accountability factor which has seen veteran Karl Alzner as a healthy scratch.
Goaltending has taken a step in the right direction as well. Antti Niemi hasn’t faltered from the performance he had last season and Carey Price has done his best to prove he’s back to being the best.
Team speed is a key standout, and it’s expressed throughout the lineup. The Montreal Canadiens make quick passes, are the first to pucks, and win battles along the boards converting them all to chances at the net.
Everything has come together well for them early on, and there could be something else that’s worked in their favour. Noted celebrity and Habs fan Jay Baruchel appeared on TSN 1050’s Overdrive on Monday. Baruchel was in studio showing his pride for the organization while wearing a Canadiens hat and was asked about his book Born Into It, which details his experience of being a fan, and how the team has played.
Interestingly enough, he mentioned the lack of expectations as something that has worked in the Montreal Canadiens favour.
"Look what happens when you play without the weight of expectation. I even say it in the book that we’re suffocated by our own history as Habs fans and that we’re never going to win another Stanley Cup unless we pretend we have 0… What I like about this team this year is out of the gate, every single one of us, none of us had any expectations. All of Montreal was ready to sleep through the whole season."
Make what you will about the pretending portion, but I do agree with the expectations. You may not have known, but Jack Hughes was trending in Montreal on Twitter ahead of the start of the season.
Constant questions in the team’s overall dynamic and goal scoring was constantly debated, so much so that the Habs having another bottom five finish seemed real before it even took place.
There is pressure that comes with playing in the market. However, it’s hard not to say the lack of expectations from fans and media made it more relaxing for the players to perform. That’s not to take away from what the personnel on the team has done. The leadership point mentioned several times during training camp that there’s a chip on all of their shoulders as they were determined to right wrongs from the year before.
The Habs success early on is most likely a combination of all of it. And yes, their attitude is equally as responsible.
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